New roles for insulin-like hormones in neuronal signalling and protection: new hopes for novel treatments of Alzheimer's disease?
Type 2 diabetes has been identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This is most likely due to the desensitisation of insulin receptors in the brain. Insulin acts as a growth factor and supports neuronal repair, dendritic sprouting, and differentiation. This review discusses the potential role that insulin-like hormones could play in ameliorating the reduced growth factor signalling in the brains of people with AD. The incretins glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) have very similar properties in protecting neurons from toxic effects, and are capable of reversing the detrimental effects that beta-amyloid fragments have on synaptic plasticity. Therefore, incretins show great promise as a novel treatment for reducing degenerative processes in AD.
Hölscher
Christian
C
School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK. christian_Holscher@mac.com
Li
Lin
L
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D054795:Incretins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
D054795:Incretins; D007328:Insulin; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents